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While hundreds of British soldiers are living in squalid Army homes without heating or hot water, the public are literally queuing up to buy refurbished MoD properties.

Prospective buyers are camping out to snap up one of 48 ex-MoD homes at the former RAF base at Coltishall, Norfolk – 17 days before they go on sale.

11 househunters were camped out in front of Annington Homes’ sales office to secure their chance of buying a discounted two or three-bedroom property.

The homes, renamed Annington Fields, go on sale on April 13 with prices starting at £124,950. Although half the buildings are set aside for service personnel to buy, the remaining half will be available on a first-come, first served basis.

Lisa Alexander, 22, and her partner Lee Cooper, 29, joined the queue on Sunday in a relative’s camper van.

They hope to move from their one-bed flat to a new three-bed house.

Miss Alexander said: ‘It is going to be a pain living like this for the next 17 days – but it is the only way we can afford a home.

‘Other houses we have looked at are all about £150,000 and beyond our price range. These places are all lovely.’